A viral social media post is putting a spotlight back on something many Georgia shoppers have noticed aka gambling-style machines popping up inside grocery stores, including some operated by Kroger.
The conversation started on X, where a user shared their surprise after seeing the machines while visiting family in Georgia.
“i’m visiting my parents in georgia and apparently they have a sectioned off gambling area in krogers now? how the f*** has gambling infiltrated EVERYTHING dude holy s***,” the user wrote.
Photos making the rounds online show a section inside a Kroger grocery store that’s been set apart with signage reading “Georgia Skill Games.” Inside the cordoned-off space, slot-style machines are lined up in a row, creating a setup that looks more like a small gaming lounge than part of a supermarket.
The post quickly sparked debate about the spread of gambling-style gaming into everyday retail spaces.
One commenter reflected on past experiences with gaming machines in other businesses: “I remember when I was a kid back in the 90s bars and local video rental stores used to have blackjack or poker machines, but in a grocery store? The south is wild for that.”
Another user was more blunt: “If you’re playing slots in a grocery store it’s time to reevaluate life’s choices.”
Some commenters pointed to similar setups in other states, including Oregon.
“They had sfuff like this in Oregon and it was insane. I always thought it was weird to ban gambling, but nope, I was wrong. It should definitely be illegal or relegated to a few heavily regulated areas.”
Others framed the machines as yet another temptation in an already consumer-driven environment.
“Buy groceries, or a couple of spins and some liquor to keep the belly warm? Decisions, decisions.”
How some of the Kroger gambling machines work
In March 2025, a user on YouTube posted a video documenting a visit to a Kroger location in Georgia to try what he described as “legal slot machines.”
“Today we go to a Kroger Grocery store to play legal slot machines in the state of Georgia. This is so crazy, because Casino’s and Slot Machines are illegal here, but somehow Kroger has found a workaround. See how to play legal slot machines in Georgia, at a Kroger Supermarkets,” the creator said in the video description.
In the video, he explained what he characterized as a legal workaround involving prepaid debit cards.
“Apparently you can come to this Kroger on Whitlock and a handful of other Krogers. You can buy this reloadable card that’s supposedly good anywhere Mastercard’s accepted. You’re able to load money onto that card, put the card into the slot machine, play slots, win, and if you win $200 or $300, you’re then able to take that card anywhere Mastercard’s accepted and use it. So, it’s like legal slot machines. It’s some kind of loophole they found is what it really is. And I heard about this about three or four months ago. I’ve just not had the chance to come out here and check it out. So today we’re going to do it.”
The reloadable cards referenced in the video are reportedly usable anywhere Mastercard is accepted, allowing winnings to be spent like standard debit funds rather than redeemed directly as cash payouts.
However, some residents in the Powder Springs neighborhood say they have had enough. Community members there started a petition when they were first rolled out, calling for the gambling-style machines to be removed, arguing that their presence could bring unwanted problems to the area.
Kroger’s broader gambling expansion
The machines inside grocery stores are showing up at a time when retailers are testing the waters in the broader gambling space. In February 2025, industry reports pointed to Kroger rolling out a new digital product tied to sports betting, a move that suggested the company is exploring ways to tap into gaming-adjacent markets while customers shop for everyday items.
Georgia still does not allow traditional casinos or slot machines. But so-called skill games and alternative payout systems have found room to operate in what many describe as a legal gray area, both in Georgia and in other states. Supporters argue the games are different from traditional gambling because they involve some element of player skill. Critics say the distinction is not always clear in practice.
For many opponents, the bigger concern is not just whether the machines technically comply with state law. It is about how visible and accessible they are.
ReadWrite has reached out to Kroger for comment.
Featured image: @MargBarAmerica via X
